Summerside man sentenced to 42 months for meth production

A Summerside, P.E.I., man has been sentenced to 42 months in prison for producing methamphetamine, in what is believed to be the first sentencing involving meth production on P.E.I.

Thomas Dale Matthew, 35, was sentenced inSummersideprovincial court Tuesday.

Matthew was charged in January after police seized about 1,000methamphetaminepills from Matthew's home.

Police said some of the pillswere hidden in a diaper.

• Methlab discovered in P.E.I., say police

Matthew hadpleaded guilty at a prior court appearance to production of methamphetamine and possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Police also seized supplies used to makemeth from Matthew's home in January.

A charge of possession of materials to produce a controlled substance against Matthew was stayed, and the chargesagainst the woman who was arrested with Matthew in Januarywere dropped.

Production to support addiction

Court heard Matthew was addicted to meth and was producing the drug and selling it to support his addiction.

Police have said the use of methappears to be increasing on P.E.I.

• Methamphetamine use increasing on P.E.I.

RCMP on P.E.I. call the 42-month sentence, "signficant."

"We're hopeful that it'll send a strong message to anyone thinking of taking on this type of activity," said Cpl. Andy Cook, Drugs and Organized Crime Awareness Service.

Meth is 'main drug of abuse'

Meth is "still our main drug of abuse on P.E.I.," he said.

The meth lab involved in this seizure was particularly dangerous, said Cook. It's called a "one-pot lab" and often involves producing the drug in a two litre plastic popbottle, which is prone to ruptures and can cause significant burns.

"It's one of the most dangerous labs you can deal with."

In Summerside court on Tuesday, the judge ordered Matthewto provide a DNA sample for the national databank.

Matthew was also ordered to pay a $200 victim surcharge fine.

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